How to add a filter to a photo using iPad

Filters can dramatically change how a photo looks. Maybe it adds a vintage look by reducing the color balance, or perhaps a filter boosts the color and contrast to add drama.

The Photos app on iPad comes with eight free filters that you can apply to your images. Cleverly, you can remove or swap the filter for another — even after you’ve saved the image. That’s because the Photos app always keeps a record of the original image behind the filter. Here’s how it’s done…

Open the Photos app and select an image. Next, tap the blue Edit text at the top of the screen. You’ll see a selection of buttons appear below the photo. Tap the middle button called Filters and you’ll see a series of eight photo filters that can be applied to an image (try all of them – some are great but others look cheap.)

The filters are: Mono, Tonal, Noir, Fade, Chrome, Process, Transfer and Instant. Each dramatically changes how your photos look, some with darkened shadows that add depth and drama, while others fade the color giving a vintage feel to your shots.

Once you’re happy with a filter tap the yellow Apply button at the top of the screen. Note that you can come back later and remove the filter, or swap it for another.